Ukraine Army's Ex-Chief Wants Five Changes to Beat Russia

Former Ukrainian General Viktor Muzhenko has outlined five changes he wants to be implemented on the battlefield to boost Ukraine's chances of beating Russia in the ongoing war.

Muzhenko, who previously served as chief of general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said in an interview with BBC News published Friday that he believes Kyiv's ongoing counteroffensive, which began in early June, has "disappointed many," although some gains have been made and Ukrainian units have "performed a miracle."

High expectations of Ukraine's long anticipated push to reclaim the territory Russia seized throughout the war were "formed by powerful informational support," but "unfortunately, did not become a reality for Ukraine," Muzhenko said.

Muzhenko was appointed chief of the General Staff by Ukraine's former president, Petro Poroshenko, and was retired from active military service by a decree issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September 2019.

His remarks echo Zelensky, who said in an interview with the Associated Press published Friday that Ukraine so far hasn't achieved the "desired results" in the war due to a lack of weapons and manpower, but he is "satisfied" with Kyiv's progress thus far against "the second (best) army in the world."

Newsweek has contacted the foreign ministries of Russia and Ukraine for comment by email.

Reformat the Front

Muzhenko reiterated that he wishes to "reformat the front" by shifting to a "strategically active defense" and building a powerful, well-trained, energized and organized reserve.

"We need to create a powerful reserve, not only quantitative, but also qualitative. And a quality reserve is the presence of military organizations: a brigade, a corps, and so on. Prepared, equipped, coordinated, with high morale and able to solve problems," said the former commander.

In the current structure "it is simply impossible to...respond to those risks that arise," and without this "all the conditions have already been created for [commanders] to lose," Muzhenko said. "It is a complex process. It is associated with risk, but it is necessary to take this risk."

The transition to a "strategically active defense" is "an urgent issue today," which would "provide for the task of counterattacks."

"I mean the creation of appropriate operational groups, and the corresponding battle orders, registration, creation of the appropriate management system, and so on," Muzhenko added.

Better Operations Planning

Muzhenko questioned Ukraine's military leadership for suggesting that Kyiv's forces could reach annexed Crimea within four months of the counteroffensive. Zelensky has vowed to recapture Crimea, which was annexed by Putin in 2014 in a move that has not been recognized internationally.

He was referencing Ukraine's commander-in-chief, General Valery Zaluzhny, who made the remarks in an interview with The Economist in November.

"If you look at NATO's text books and at the maths which we did, four months should have been enough time for us to have reached Crimea, to have fought in Crimea, to return from Crimea and to have gone back in and out again," General Zaluzhny said.

Muzhenko questioned how Ukraine's leadership could have "accepted these calculations."

"Where is the management of this strategic operation, which should have passed these calculations through itself, to understand how real or unrealistic they are, taking into account all those conditions?" he asked. "Was the Ukrainian side really able to adequately assess the enemy and its capabilities?"

Muzhenko also said Ukraine could have better timed certain offensives, noting that while he believes Ukraine's push to recapture its partially occupied Kherson region has been "successful," questions arise about "the timeliness of this operation and its prospects."

Kyiv has conducted cross-river raids into the occupied part of Kherson Oblast, east of the Dnieper River, since February, ramping up attacks in August. Last month, the Ukrainian Marine Corps Command and the Ukrainian General Staff said their personnel had secured several "bridgeheads," referring to strong positions secured by an army inside enemy territory from which to advance or attack.

"Do we have the prospect of expanding this bridgehead to such a size that we can organize logistics, supply and movement of heavy equipment and weapons," asked Muzhenko. "And then - logistics, that is, providing material means for those troops that will be located on this bridgehead."

"In my opinion, such an operation should have been carried out a little earlier," he added.

Stop Awaiting Game-Changer Weapons

Game-changing weapons from the West "will not solve the problem," said Muzhenko.

Ukrainian government officials have appealed for more advanced weapons for the fight against Russia. The U.S. is the largest contributor of arms to Ukraine, and the West has so far supplied the war-torn country with a multitude of arms, including Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2 tanks; Stryker armored vehicles; Bradley fighting vehicles; the Patriot missile system; the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS); and M777 howitzers.

Washington has turned down Kyiv's requests for fighter jets, although Denmark and the Netherlands have since confirmed that they will supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

"We didn't get all the weapons we wanted" from our allies, Zelensky told the Associated Press this week.

Muzhenko suggested that the buzz over certain weapons was short-lived. For example, there was excitement about Leopard tanks, but Ukraine wasn't able to utilize them fully, he said.

"We have some faith in some miracle weapon that should solve all problems at once. This will not happen. At the beginning of the war or before a large-scale aggression, we all prayed for Javelins," he said. "Yes, indeed, in the first period of the war, they played a significant role in delaying the Russian troops. But now we don't hear much about them."

"The same applies to F-16 aircraft. They will definitely be able to improve the situation at certain moments. And we would probably need them not only now, but, as they say, yesterday. But how ready are we? What quantity?" added Muzhenko.

Boost Motivation

Ukraine must boost the motivation of its troops, said Muzhenko, suggesting that recruits should be given certain guarantees.

"Perhaps some social guarantees, perhaps the timeliness of appropriate payments, which are already provided for by law. Including for the death of servicemen. How timely is it all processed?" he asked.

Rapid Fortification Plans

When asked whether Ukraine has "enough people to defeat Russia," Muzhenko said that Kyiv must focus on constructing "deeply echeloned defenses equipped in a fortification plan, relevant lines, positions, and so on."

"Why aren't there enough people? The question is how we will implement all our plans. If we go to frontal attacks again, then I think there will be problems," he added.

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